Pregnant Women's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Associated Factors Toward Physical Exercise During Pregnancy in Al-Ahsa City, KSA

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Abstract
Introduction This research study aims to explore the understanding and perspective of pregnant women in Al-Ahsa regarding physical exercise during their pregnancy. Presently, there exists a deficiency in knowledge concerning the advantages of exercise for the well-being of both the expectant mother and the developing fetus within this area. The study endeavors to enlighten and empower pregnant women about the appropriate types and levels of exercise suitable for their individual physical activity during pregnancy, with the ultimate aim of attaining noteworthy health benefits. The proposed solution entails offering comprehensive education and guidance on the advantages and techniques of exercising during pregnancy. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Al-Al-Ahsa, located in Saudi Arabia. The data was collected through an online questionnaire. Subsequently, the collected data underwent a series of essential steps, including coding, thorough checking, and entry into an Excel spreadsheet. The final stage involved analyzing the data using the widely used statistical software SPSS. Results In this research conducted in Al-Ahsa City, the findings were based on a sample of 306 Saudi nationals. Several of the participants were aged over 45 (33.7%), married (81.4%), and had completed their college education (79.7%). In terms of their beliefs, the participants had an average score of 3.51 out of 7. Their level of awareness scored 5.13 out of 8, while their knowledge level scored 3.52 out of 5. A significant number of participants (68.3%) agreed on the importance of exercise during pregnancy, and a considerable percentage (72.9%) believed that any pregnant woman could exercise without seeking healthcare advice. When it came to accessing information about antenatal exercise, digital platforms, especially social media, were the primary source for the participants (63.4%). The most commonly practiced exercise type was walking (77.1%), and the main barriers reported were fatigue (64.4%) and time constraints (34.3%). Age was found to have a notable association with beliefs, awareness, and knowledge scores, while marital status and functional status showed marginal, insignificant associations. Conclusion This research underscores the significance of fostering optimistic beliefs, improving awareness, and addressing knowledge deficiencies through focused educational interventions. It emphasizes the crucial roles that healthcare professionals and digital platforms assume in spreading reliable information and assisting expectant mothers in making well-informed choices regarding their exercise routines. It is essential for future studies to investigate the efficacy of customized interventions and encompass diverse populations, thus deepening our comprehension of antenatal exercise behaviors and the factors that influence them.

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